We had an amazing time in Florence, and this apartment was our base. It is VERY clean, comfortable, and right in the middle of Duomo. The perfect location for an Italian retreat. KNOW BEFORE YOU BOOK.
The location here is in the busiest, and most tourist traveled area in town. You can literally walk to everything. But with that comes the basics - There is street noise. If you are looking for a location that isn't traveled, don't book in Duomo. Only one night (Saturday) we could really hear the kids in the streets singing and such. I travel with earplugs, so it didn't bother me a bit. Other than that, the cart vendors roll their carts down the streets at 5AM. You can hear it, but its not obnoxious. Just don't expect graveyard quiet. Its not realistic.
There is a smell from the bathroom that is simply old pipes/sewer. Its immaculately clean.
This is a 2nd floor walk up. 4 half flights of stairs in an old stone building. Meaning luggage up and down. We are able bodied and 30, this didn't hinder us a bit. The apartment is cool - stone walls, stone floors, and comfortable. The heat is timed, and we didn't freeze. In the summers, I imagine this is perfect for keeping out that Mediterranean heat. It is also fully stocked with the basics (cookware, serveware). We made it home.
Emma was super nice, easy to get ahold of (even without cell service) and responded well to anything we needed. She gave us a full map of the neighborhood, and candid recommendations. We loved it.